"Nuking the fridge" refers to the moment in a film series when it becomes apparent that a certain installment is not as good as previous installments, due to ridiculous or low quality storylines, events, or characters.

Originating from the film "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," Harrison Ford's character survives a nuclear detonation by getting into a lead-lined fridge before being blown thousands of feet only to crash back down and emerge safely.

The absurdity in this occurrence is that, although lead is radiation proof, lead melts at 620°F and is not resistant to the millions of degrees, that say, an atomic bomb would put out. This is the prime example of the lower quality and outlandishness disgorged as a continuation of the series, and thus the phrase was coined.

The saying is also a reference to the phrase "jump the shark," referring to an episode of Happy Days where the Fonz jumped a shark on water skis, considered the lowest point of the show. "Jumping the shark" is applied to a television series alternatively to film.

Nuke the fridge is a phrase used to refer to the moment in a film series that is so incredible that it lessens the excitement of subsequent scenes that rely on more understated action or suspense, and it becomes apparent that a certain installment is not as good as a previous installments, due to ridiculous or low quality storylines, events or characters. Simply, "to nuke the fridge" means to essentially disappoint fans of a series by making a poor quality installment.

This phrase is derived by a scene in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull when the hero miraculously survives a nuclear blast by getting inside a lead-lined fridge and being blasted miles away.

The original Batman franchise really "nuked the fridge" when they casted Arnald Swartzenager as Mr. Freeze and gave him a billion ice-related puns.

Nuking the fridge refers to the moment in a film series when it becomes apparent that a certain installment is not as good as a previous installments, due to ridiculous or low quality storylines, events or characters.

Originating from the film "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" where Harrison Ford's character survives a nuclear detonation by getting into a fridge, and is then blown hundreds of feet, only to hit the ground, and then emerges safely.

The absurdity of this event in the film to be the best example of the lower quality of this installment in the series, and thus the phrase was coined.

The phrase is also a reference to the phrase "jump the shark", which has the same meaning, only applied to a television series instead of a film series.